Arnold Bell interviewed by Rob Willis for the Voices of the bush oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 1784370
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Bell, Arnold (Roy Arnold), 1937-, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2000 Apr. 18
- 1 digital adudio tape (ca. 54 min.)
- Series:
- Voices of the bush oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Folkloric recording. Arnold Bell, a retired boxer and showman was born 1937 in Sydney. He recalls his father's work travelling around Australia as a showman running a boxing tent. Roy Bell was recognised as one of the best spruikers (ie speaker/salesman/showman) on the show circuit. He recalls his father's early days on the road. Arnold recalls starting with dad burning charcoal during WW2 at Tullamore and fighting at age 16; Wollongong during the war; picking up showmanship from his Dad; Aboriginal boxers 90% of boxers; life on the road; names good boxers; names area covered by troupe; describes spruiking technique; the "Gees" ie. people in crowd who worked for the tent shows; Gee's in crowd - importance of local; contacting locals and persuading them to fight; number of boxing tents over the years; names owners of tents; other types of side show a buckjump-girlie-freak, illusions cowboy-rock n roll; names other showmen; Major Wilson showman extordinaire.
Arnold Bell recalls the demise of the tent boxing; tent boxing was all staged; wrestling; demise occured in 1970, still able to operate in Qld and Northern Territory; admission prices in later years; his father Roy's discipline of fighters; Roy was tough still fighting at 70 yrs; food on the road; songs; more on Aboriginal boxers; recites words of a song; song about boxers; rides and other entertainment; rivalry between boxing shows; superstitions; showmans guild; days on showground; changes over the years - no showers in early days; Roy's caravan; Roy's wife's role and background.
- Notes:
-
- Accompanied by photographs of the interviewee.
- Recorded on April 18, 2000 at Forbes, N.S.W.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-207039038
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (2 p.)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Willis, Rob, 1944-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Voices of the bush oral history project.
This collection contains 179 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2070 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2000
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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